The Water Bearer

A water-bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a

pole which he carried across his neck.

One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always

delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the

master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a

half pot full of water in his master's house.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for

which it was made.

But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and

miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been

made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to

the water-bearer one day by the stream.

"I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."

"Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"

"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my

load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way

back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of

this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot

said.

The water-bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his

compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to

notice the beautiful flowers along the path."

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the

sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this

cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because

it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the

bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only

on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's

because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of

it.

I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we

walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have

been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's

table.

Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to

grace his house."

Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But if we

will allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His Father's table.

In God's great economy, nothing goes to waste.